Music-sheet-controlling device.



' T.' P. BROWN. MUSIC SHEET CONTROLLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 190B. 912,068, Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

2 3 MN 0 5% w m t m? g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' music spool can be under selection on the instrument, so that if any box at one end. It is THEODORE P. BROWN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SIM'PLEX PIANO PLAYER 00., OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MUSICKSIEETGONTROLLING DE VICE Patented Feb. 9, 1909. Serial No. 424,233.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, TH ODORE P. BROWN, I a citizen of the United States, residing at I Worcester, in the county of Worcester and j Stateof Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Music-Sheet-Controlling Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an adjusting device for music rolls used on piano players, automatic or combination pianos and similar musical instruments.

As is well known the note sheets used on I instruments-of this character contract and expand according to the weather, and it is necessary to make adjustments to assure the tracking of the sheets. This is sometimes done by moving the music spool longitudinally.

The principal object of this invention is toprovlde convenient and simple means for moving the music spool back and forth which can be manipulated from the front of the key-bed so that the position of the music spool will at all times be under the direct and convenient control of the operators hand which is used for manipulating the several levers located along the key bed.

Further objects and advantages of the in vention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be' had to the accompanying drawing whichillustrates a preferred form of the invention and which shows the same in front elevation with parts in section.

The invention is shown as applied to an ordinary type of musical instrument in which a rotatable and longitudinally movable shaft 10 is mounted adjacent to a tracker 11 in a tracker-box 12. A take-up spool 13 of ordinary form is shown. The music spool 10 is preferably provided with a spring-14 for normally forcing it in one direction and it projects through the tracker provided with the usual devices 15 for driving and controlling it,

It has been proposed to provide means for adjusting the longitudinal position of the music spool shaft and one convenient form thereofis shown in my prior United States Patent No. 862,608 granted August 6, 1907. In that construction, however, there is noconvenient way in which the position of the the control of the operator during the entire renderin of a dinary way without .spools. and tracker-boxes ment is started it may easily be remedied without necessitating the removal of the op erators hand from the immediate vicinity of the operating or controlling levers. In order to accomplish this result, the following mechanism is provided. Outside the trackerbox and in position to bear on the projecting end of the shaft 10 is a plate 16 which is connected with a sliding rod 17 mounted to move in bearings 18 on the tracker box. This sliding rod is connected by a lever 19 or the like with a link 20 which is located below the key-bed 21 and is con nected with a hand lever 22 pivoted on the key-bed. This latter lever is shown having a bifurcation 23 :1. its lower end, the link 20 being adj ustably connected with it by a screw and nut 2% or the like, mounted on the key-bed in proximity to the expression manipulatory levers 25 with which instruments of this character ordinarily are provided. Owing to the construction of these connections the parts will readily stay in any ad j usted position so that ordinarily the levers 22 need be merely adjusted once by a slight touch and the hand of the operator will then be free to control the other levers in the orcausing any break in the proper control of the instrument.

While the form of connections between the sliding rod 17 and the lever 22 may be varied in any desired way, it will be understood that the objects of this invention are accomplished whenever the rod is connected with. the lever so that the latter may be manipulated like the other levers 25 and may be always under the control of the operator for the purposes of moving the music-spool back and forth. It will be seen that in this way, any temporary derangement of the parts to throw the music-spool shaft 10 out of proper position to bring the paper into accurate registration with the tracker bar can be obviated very readily by the operator without taking his .hand fromthe rest at the front of the key-bed.

I am aware that the invention may be applied to other forms of music and take-u and that the. invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the scope thereof as expressed in the claims. wish to be limited to the particular type of musical instrument shown or to all the de- Therefore, I do not tails of construction illustrated in the drawing, but

What I do claim is 1. In a musical instrument, the combination of akey-bed, a tracker box supported above the key-bed and having bearings on the outside thereof, a longitudinally movable music spool shaft in the tracker-box, movable means engaging said shaft for moving it, a

rod connected with said movable means and supported in the bearings of the tracker box, and means mounted-on the front of the key-bed and connected With said rod for operating the rod, whereby the music spool shaft may be manipulated from the key-bed.

2. In a musicalinstrument, the combination With a key-bed, a tracker-box above the key-bed having hearings on the top thereof,

and a longitudinally movable music-spool shaft in the tracker -box and projecting therefrom at one end, of a movable plate engaging the end of said shaft for moving it a sliding rod connected with said plate supported in the bearings on the tracker box,

a lever mounted on the front of the key-bed,

andconnections from thelever to said sliding rod, whereby the music spool shaft may be 1manipulated from the lever on the keybec.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto se my hand, in the presence of tWo subscribing witnesses. I

THEODORE P. BROWN. Witnesses:

' ALBERT E. FAY, e C. FORREST WESSON. 

